How long is the healing period? | Surgery of a calcified shoulder

How long is the healing period?

Through the operation of a calcified shoulder, all calcified deposits are removed and the shoulder is considered healed and a recurrence of calcified deposits is unlikely. After the operation, the shoulder must be spared for three weeks, with gentle mobilization through physiotherapy. The operated shoulder tendon usually heals without problems and after three weeks the wound healing is complete.

What are the alternatives to surgery?

In some cases the calcium deposits dissolve spontaneously and the complaints disappear. A calcified shoulder, however, causes quite severe pain, which is why those affected should not delay treatment for long. Normally, a calcified shoulder is treated conservatively, i.e. not surgically.

Only when these measures do not help will the shoulder be operated on. First, the doctor prescribes painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs that help to fight the inflammation in the shoulder. If the pain is very severe, cortisone injections can also be administered, which the doctor injects directly into the bursa of the joint.

Cortisone has an anti-inflammatory effect and can significantly improve the acute pain in a calcified shoulder. Frequent injections, however, weaken the tendons and can promote tendon rupture. A subsequent exercise therapy is suitable for loosening the calcifications in the tendon.

Physiotherapy and physiotherapy are used to perform specific exercises that relieve pain and mobilize the shoulder. In addition, exercise promotes blood circulation and makes it easier to remove the calcification. Shockwave therapy is another alternative to surgery and has proven to be highly effective. In this procedure, the calcified shoulder is treated with high-energy ultrasound waves, which lead to the destruction of the calcium deposits. The crushed lime remains can then be broken down by the surrounding tissue.

What can you do if you still have pain after calcified shoulder surgery?